star trek voyager spezies 8472 episode

Designing Species 8472

Concept artist Steve Burg had to design the first non-humanoid alien of Star Trek . Species 8472, which would first appear in “Scorpion”, was a departure from any race seen yet.

It would also be the first fully computer-generated species of Star Trek .

Although the technology was still far from perfect, according to VFX supervisor Ronald B. Moore, it was good enough for Voyager ’s needs.

“We’d suggested it before,” but the producers were reluctant. “With CGI you’re always on the cusp. We’re not really good at people yet. Jurassic Park was showing us that we could do things as long as they weren’t too real.”

The seeds had been sown in the Season 3 episode “Macrocosm”, which featured giant microbe-like creatures that were completely computer-generated.

The producers had been impressed by what they saw and wished to take the technology further. So when they came up with an alien race that was destroying the Borg, they were ready to experiment with a CG alien.

Determined to take full advantage of this technology, VFX producer Dan Curry suggested that, if it was going to look really alien, the creature should have three legs.

“We had a script for a vicious alien creature that had to be so powerful and so fearsome that it was able to chop up and destroy the Borg,” he recalled.

When we got the story, I was interested in creatures that had weird locomotive properties. I guess it goes back to the old fifties sci-fi book The Day of the Triffids , about these tripod plants that come to Earth and cause trouble.

Curry did some crude sketches and worked with John Teska and Steve Burg, swapping drawings back and forth until they came up with the 8472.

Curry’s proposal, however, was not immediately passed on to Foundation Imaging, the company which would make the CGI. Ron Moore explained that this was because he did not want to impose a design on the people he works with too early in the process:

We approached Ron Thornton at Foundation and said, “Look, here’s what we’re trying to do. Why don’t you have your guys draw something up and we’ll look it over.” The way I like to work with the CG houses is to be nebulous. I don’t like to be real specific, because it ties their hands in.

So, with plenty of room for latitude, Foundation Imaging turned to Burg, a veteran of films such as The Abyss and Contact , and of several earlier Foundation Imaging projects, including Hypernauts . Steve had designed the three-legged Gloose that had stuck in Curry’s mind. Burg worked with Thornton, Foundation Imaging’s owner, who passed all of Curry’s and Moore’s comments onto him.

Big and ferocious

“The main desire,” said Burg, “was to do a creature that was definitely not a man in a suit, just to see how that would work out. They were still writing the script at that moment, so there was only a very brief description.”

It said it was big and ferocious and terrifying and moved very quickly; it was 14 feet tall at one point. That was about it. There aren’t really that many limitations on what you can accomplish. It’s mostly about artistic choices. You don’t have to think about physical limitations like with a puppet creature. I would say creatures and robots are very much like character design for animation. You just have to try to evoke a certain feel and create an overall impression.

Burg’s initial drawings, however, did not particularly impress the producers. “They thought that it was too human-like,” he said, “and too similar to the creature from Alien .”

I think it was the head they were most concerned about. They wanted something like the alien, but they didn’t want a ripoff. They wanted something that was that distinct; something very nasty and powerful. It also had to be intelligent. The thing about an alien, unfortunately, is making it smart usually means making it something we can relate to on a human level. Probably, real aliens would be so weird that they’d be unfathomable. But this is film and television; we have to be able to understand it fairly quickly.

Once the first drawing had been rejected, Thornton told Burg he should produce some quick sketches showing a variety of looks they could choose from.

The next batch were just basic silhouettes. Some have three legs; some have two legs; some of them have a split, tripodal base, with below the knee bifurcated. I don’t think I had any real strong idea. In that situation you basically try to do as many variations as you can and hope that one of them will click.

The series of drawings included several three-legged creatures that were close to what Curry was looking for. The producers chose one of these drawings and asked Burg to develop it further. This involved a fair amount of work, since the view they had chosen showed the creature from behind and not its face.

Burg concentrated on the creature’s body. As he confronted the difficulties of its alien anatomy, it started to take on a more definite form.

With CG, even if things don’t have to support their own weight, you still have to think about how it will move in a general sense. The biggest problem was dealing with that third leg. In the end it became like a human leg, but it started out as more of a symmetrical tripod; all the legs pointed out from the middle and the body was more centrally located. A tripod is one of those things that sounds great, but if you have a tripod, and the creature still has a front and back, what do you do? I think it moved back toward something you could relate to; it became sort of a centaur.

By this stage, Burg was starting to develop a clear idea of what Species 8472 would look like, even if the final design was still forming with each successive drawing.

The thing about any of these things, it’s not like it’s any one moment the design suddenly appears. It’s more of a process that evolves. There are various people who affect it. Your job is to try to capture the quality that people are looking for in a visual. I think that once this guy got underway, he began to take on his own identity. It’s really good when that happens. It’s almost like these things come out of a fog. It’s a gradual thing, but by the end it becomes its unique self.

Creating the CG

The task of creating the CG version of the Species 8472 was given to John Teska at Foundation Imaging.

By the time Teska became involved, Burg had already produced a set of drawings that showed what the creature should look like, but a lot of creative work remained to be done.

In fact, the producers handed him several drawings with instructions to use different elements from each one. These gave Teska an idea of what they wanted, but there was room for interpretation. The finished model turned out similar, but not quite identical, to Burg’s final concept drawings.

“It was something of a Frankenstein’s monster,” said Teska.

The key features, the things that distinguished the creature, were the three legs, the tendons in the neck and the basic head shape, all of which had been laid out in Steve’s artwork.” I followed that fairly closely. But, in addition to pulling these designs together, I had to go in and do deeper detail like sorting out the colors and working out literally what the flesh would look like — the wrinkles and things like that. Certainly, there was plenty of room to put my own ideas in and breathe life into it.

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Species 8472

• Non-humanoid species
• Races and cultures
• Extradimensional races and cultures
• Telepathic species
• View history
• 1.1 Early events
• 1.2 Armada timeline
• 1.3 25th century
• 1.4.1 First Splinter timeline
• 4 Technology
• 5 Known individuals
• 6.1 Behind the scenes
• 6.2 External links

History [ ]

Early events [ ].

This interdimensional race originate from a region of space outside the known universe with their home being a place that had no stars or planets but instead consisted entirely of bio-matter. ( ST video game : Armada II )

The extra-galactic realm that was their home dimension was known only as fluidic space. However, their origins were largely unknown and it was not even clear whether the race had a homeworld. Speculation by some indicated that Species 8472 may have formed within the organic fluids that populated their dimension. Regardless, what was known was that they were the only race to form within fluidic space and the concept of other species was completely alien to them. ( Decipher RPG module : Aliens )

The earliest known encounter with the species was in the 2370s when the Borg Collective began their failed attempt to assimilate the race. ( VOY episode : " Scorpion ")

The Borg driven from their realm, Species 8472 became aware of the Milky Way Galaxy and initiated a purge of all other life forms, starting from Borg space. All their attacks against the Borg were victories and it is possible that in a matter of time, the Borg would have been potentially destroyed had it not been for the interference of the Federation starship USS Voyager who formed an alliance with the Collective and developed an effective weapon against Species 8472. After facing their first losses from the weapon, Species 8472 retreated back into their realm. ( VOY episode : " Scorpion ")

Despite the call to return, a few members of this race were left behind some of which became prey of the Hirogen , prized as unique trophies. ( VOY episode : " Prey ")

Another stranded 8472 found itself in another extra-dimensional realm, on a Borg Cube trapped within the graveyard that circled the Forge , it and its spawn were killed as part of a deal made between the Borg and the USS Voyager's Hazard team . ( VOY video game : Elite Force )

By 2375 groups of 8472 had returned to the galaxy where they built space station habitats that would simulate conditions within the Alpha and Beta Quadrants in an attempt to gain intelligence on the race that had defeated them. This tactic seemingly came to an end when the crew of the USS Voyager were able to convince the 8472 on one station to make peace with the Federation over the misunderstanding that all races within the galaxy had declared war on Species 8472. ( VOY episode : " In the Flesh ")

Armada timeline [ ]

Unfortunately this time of good will was not to last and in 2377 8472 returned to purge the galaxy of all life, striking not just in the Delta Quadrant but also into Federation space in the Alpha and Beta Quadrants. Stray 8472 ships also found themselves involuntarily pulled into the galaxy by the Cardassians who had found a way to open a rift into fluidic space and used it as a weapon pulling in agitated 8472 vessels at their whim.

This invasion was defeated by the combined alliance of the Borg stranded in the Alpha Quadrant and the Federation who ventured into fluidic space to destroy the Rift Maker organisms which maintained the gateways into the Galaxy ( ST video game : Armada II )

25th century [ ]

A group of Undine follow their leader.

The earlier truce was later revealed to be only an agreement with a section of the Species 8472 population, and not all-encompassing. Whether Species 8472 wished to continue its genocidal schemes or make peace was unknown for a time. In 2390 the USS Enterprise -E was in the McAllister C-5 Nebula and detected quantum singularities that possibly indicate Species 8472 in the area. The next year , Starfleet created a task force to investigate the possible return of Species 8472. The team interviewed members of the USS Enterprise and former members of the USS Voyager crew.

Not known to many, Species 8472, who was also known as the Undine, had been active in the late 24th century where they infiltrated the Gorn Hegemony government and subverted them in order to force them to fight in a drawn-out conflict with the Klingon Empire . Later in 2395 , the Undine attempted to kill Ja'rod of the House of Duras whereupon it would masquerade as him. Ja'rod whilst on shore leave was ambushed by three members of the shapeshifting species but was able to slay two of the infiltrators and capture the third for questioning onboard the IKS Kang . Through interrogation, Ja'rod learnt of the Undine's motivations to infiltrate the Klingon High Command and after the defeat of the Gorn , the Undine involvement in their government came to light to the Klingon High Council thus heightening the Klingon 's xenophobia towards other races. ( STO website  : The Path to 2409 )

An Undine warrior battles a Borg Drone.

The first major sign of active Undine war efforts against the galactic powers was when they abducted the Vulcan ambassador Sokketh and replaced him with one of their own. This member of the species was stationed at Earth Spacedock and in 2409 Starfleet was tasked with escorting him to P'Jem where the world was discovered to be blockaded by a Klingon task force. It was only after battling these Klingons did the Starfleet forces learn that Sokketh was an Undine who fled whereupon one of their dreadnaughts entered into the system. The arrival of Starfleet reinforcements managed to destroy the Undine ship and defeat the threat posed by this infiltration. ( STO mission : " Diplomatic Orders ")

At this point, the Undine were involved in not only combating the Federation and Klingon races but also the Borg. The Collective in the meantime sought the means to complete its original goal when it entered into fluidic space namely to assimilate the Undine. They were successful in capturing several members of the species in the region of space known as NGC-4447 . Ultimately, they succeeded in assimilating one member of the race to serve as a prototype for future assimilations of the species. However, a strike force from Battle Group Omega succeeded in destroying the drone along with its guards. ( STO mission : " Assimilation ")

Despite the state of war with the other races, Starfleet attempted to forge peaceful relations with the Undine by entering into fluidic space from a stable portal in the Zemet system . Though negotiations failed, it did lead to the Federation's first contact with another inhabitant of this extradimensional realm known as the Hylasa . It was also discovered during this expedition that the Undine had, again, been provoked into acting in normal space: the Iconians had attacked the Undine and framed the nations of the Alpha and Beta Quadrants for the incursion, likely in an attempt to weaken both groups. ( STO mission : " Fluid Dynamics ")

Undine soldiers.

The Undine began a series of major offensives very late in 2409 . During a battle between the Dyson alliance, comprising the Federation, Klingon Empire , and the Romulan Republic , and the Voth , both sides passed through an Iconian Gateway from the Solanae Dyson Sphere and entered the Jenolan Dyson Sphere . An Undine battle group blasted its way through the Jenolan sphere's neutronium main door, accidentally obliterating a Voth Citadel -class starship , but the allied ships were able to defeat the task force. After a disagreement over the ownership of the Dyson sphere nearly erupted into a shooting war between the members of the alliance, Rear Admiral Tuvok proposed a conference to settle the matter. ( STO mission : " A Step Between Stars ")

In 2410 Tuvok's summit was interrupted by the appearance of a large Undine armada within the Dyson spheres that set course for Earth . This fleet inflicted severe damage to Earth Spacedock , necessitating a near-complete rebuild, and caused heavy casualties to Starfleet before reinforcements could stop it. Amidst the battle, Tuvok discovered in a mind-link with the Undine previously masquerading as Eric Cooper that the attack on Earth was a diversion: the Undine were really after Qo'noS . Reinforcements including the USS Enterprise -F and the RRW Lleiset rushed to the Klingon homeworld and were able to blunt the offensive, destroying an Undine planet killer in the process. After the battle, the Federation and Klingon Empire declared an armistice, ending the Federation-Klingon War of 2405-2410 . ( STO mission : " Surface Tension ")

With the end of the war, a new alliance was formed, known as the Alpha Quadrant Alliance , but one loose end still remained. The Undine masquerading as Cooper continued to strike at Tuvok, trying to destroy his mental defenses and take him out. Aided by the captain who joined him in stopping the Solanae Dyson Sphere from jumping, Tuvok was able to track down Cooper's location and board his modified bioship. Here, Tuvok was able to contact one of the Undine's higher-ups and was able to convince them that the Needs of the Many outweigh the Needs of the Few and that, by working together, the Undine could be strong and survive. Despite Cooper's protests, they agreed and ended up destroying Cooper for his weak-minded thoughts. The Undine retreated back into fluidic space. ( STO mission : " Mindscape ")

Alternate realities [ ]

In an alternate timeline , the USS Voyager crew discovered that this species was still at war with the Milky Way galaxy in other alternate timelines due to the fact that their realm does not have such timelines. The Torres Generator was used to seal the barriers between their realm and all other alternate timelines. As a species, they preferred the name " Groundskeepers " to "Species 8472". ( VOY - Infinity's Prism short story : " Places of Exile ")

First Splinter timeline [ ]

By 2381 Willem Batiste , an undercover agent for Species 8472, used Project Full Circle to maneuver the USS Voyager back to the Delta Quadrant where he intended to return to his home in fluidic space . After being betrayed by McDonnell he was rescued by the Species 8472 member known as Valerie Archer . Although initially refusing to accept him, due to his potential as a 'pollutant' to the fluidic space, he was eventually allowed to complete his journey home. ( VOY novel : Unworthy )

Biology [ ]

Species 8472 are a tripedal species and perhaps one of the tallest species encountered by the Federation . They do not possess vocal cords however do possess eyes which serve as their sensory organs. They are telepathic which they use to great effect in scanning the minds of other races and using it as a form of tracking mechanism when hunting enemy starships.

The race uses their large arms in combat to great effect with a single strike being possibly fatal to any species known, this is in part due to their amazing immune system. Species 8472 are perhaps the ultimate expression of biological perfection as they possess a near flawless immune system that attacks and destroys any form of 'infection'; both biological and technological. This was also the reason why the Borg failed in assimilating them. Species 8472 use this to their advantage in melee by physically attacking their opponents, transferring blood and immune cells to their target. Victims of such strikes can be best described as being 'eaten alive' as the immune cells from Species 8472 are transferred to its victim which begin to destroy its new 'host'. ( VOY episode : " Scorpion ")

Despite their large size, they are capable of shape shifting and are capable of taking humanoid forms which they use to infiltrate other species when it became necessary after their war with the Borg. However, this seems to be a difficult process for them one which can fail as the members that do so have been known to experience a process known as ' reversion '. This essentially means that the race cannot maintain their form and reverts back to their natural appearance. Upon death, the body is also known to return to its natural form. ( VOY episode : " In the Flesh ")

Their evolution in fluidic space seems to have given them quite a few characteristics that differ from other races one of which is them capable of surviving in the vacuum of space without any form of protection; which suggests that they do not respire as humanoids do. They do not even need to sleep for rest and find the concept very 'alien'. Another fact of their evolution is their being capable of entering periods of hibernation when faced with injury in an attempt to heal themselves. Finally, their mastery of biology allows them to effectively poison themselves should they face capture.

The race appears to have five sexes though little else is known in this regard. ( VOY episode : " Someone to Watch Over Me ")

Culture [ ]

A hologram of an individual in 2381 .

Nearly nothing is known about the races culture due to the species xenophobic nature. In all their purges, they have been known to be aggressive and single minded in their aims to destroy all other forms of life and had marked both the Borg and Federation as enemies. Whether this remains as the case after Voyager's attempted negotiations with the race is unknown however considering their invasion of the Alpha Quadrant, it is possible that they believe all races are hostile and need to be destroyed.

During their first invasion into the galaxy, a common telepathic command that would be send from their minds would be 'the weak will perish'. This perhaps suggests that the race believes in a survival of the fittest policy and do not tolerate 'weaker' species. However, they also believed that the intrusion into their realm by the Borg was a threat to their 'genetic integrity' but as to what this means is unknown. It is perhaps possible that having not encountered another species before, that Species 8472 was simply responding to the threat of invasion as the Borg were the race that had first attacked them.

Species 8472's central authority and leadership are not known to the powers of normal galactic space, nor is it known exactly how centralized their organization is or how widespread their telepathic connection to each other is. A number of factions apparently exist, with differing opinions of the Federation and other inhabitants of galactic space. Different insignia are known, and are possibly associated with the separate factions. While the faction initially involved in Borg encounters began the first infiltration program, they were convinced by the crew of Voyager that the Federation was not a threat to fluidic space. However, a majority of Undine consider the Federation to be their sworn enemy. ( STO novel : The Needs of the Many ) Their single-minded purpose made them a threat to all other species who were targets of their aggression. ( ST video game : Armada II )

Their name was initially a designation given to them by the Borg though it was claimed that the actual name of the race was the Undine. This was the closest approximation capable of being produced to a humanoid speech organ though a translation to Federation Standard meant that the Undine translated to mean "Groundskeepers" . It was believed that this name was used to imply their stewardship in the protection of fluidic space. ( STO novel : The Needs of the Many )

Nicor class bioships destroying a Borg cube .

Technology [ ]

Species 8472 uses biological technology which seems to possess aspects of their own genetic structure. They are capable of moving between normal space and their own fluidic realm through the use of Quantum singularities . Their kind had no need for resources such as dilithium , metals or latinum but instead used bio-matter. Virtually any substance was capable of being broken down into bio-matter for the needs of Species 8472. Such acts were achieved through Collector craft that gathered the necessary raw material that was taken to the Transmuter to undergo the bio-matter transmutation process. ( ST video game : Armada II )

The technology used by this race was entirely organic in nature with their starships and space station's actually being genetically designed organisms bred for specific purposes. Many of these simply required a single pilot to operate them with nearly all such 'structures' being mobile allowing them to navigate through space on their own power. The biological traits of their technology also meant that they did not require repair but simply healed themselves from any injuries. These same traits also made it nearly impossible to board, transport or tractor their vessels. ( ST video game : Armada II )

As their starships are living creatures, they respond to the telepathic commands of its 'pilot'. This has several advantages for them, one of which is that the ships are capable of healing themselves after battle. Their organic form also is immune to tractor beam and transporter technology which prevents their capture. Their battleships emit a form of bio-pulses that are highly energetic and capable of dealing considerable damage to Borg cubes . They could combine and reroute these pulses into a frigate vessel which could generate such power that it was capable of cracking and destroying planets. This seems to require four to eight battleship vessels in addition to the frigate to accomplish this task which shows their power in regards to energy manipulation.

Despite this, it is known that they are vulnerable to specific nanoprobe weapons which are designed to 'act' as part of the immune system before destroying the creature. This works equally well on both an individual member of the race and their starships due to the similarity in genetics between the two.

The race is known to employ several different types of starships and organisms in battle, most of which are biological in origin. However there are space stations known as terraspheres that were near mechanical in appearance. There have been known sights of active shipyards employed by the race however there have been mobile 'starbases' that produce the simpler bio-ships while gateways into fluidic space allow the entry of larger more powerful warships.

The following are what assets they use in space:

• Species 8472 battleship
• Species 8472 frigate
• Species 8472 behemoth
• Species 8472 destroyer
• Species 8472 scout
• Species 8472 defender
• Species 8472 mothership
• Species 8472 active embryo
• Species 8472 passive embryo ( ST video game : Armada II )
• Dahut -class frigate
• Nicor -class cruiser
• Dactylus -class bioship
• Dromias -class cruiser
• Vila -class battleship
• Tethys -class dreadnought
• Undine planet killer ( ST video game : Star Trek Online )
• Command bioship ( STO mission : " Mindscape ")

Known individuals [ ]

• David Gentry
• Designate 1001
• Designate 2232
• Designate 3020
• Designate 4187
• Eric Cooper
• Valerie Archer

Appendices [ ]

Behind the scenes [ ].

Species 8472 first featured in Star Trek: Voyager in the two-part episode " Scorpion " whereupon they played smaller roles throughout the show. They were later utilized as a faction as well as a story element within Armada II where they engaged in an invasion of the galaxy as well as forced the Borg to ally with the Federation in order to combat the menace.

In Christopher L. Bennett 's short story " Places of Exile ", the race played a role where it was detailed that they lacked any parallel realities intersecting their universe, and due to their invasions of the normal universe they faced the threat of duplication of their invasion forces. This along with the activation of the Torres Generator was an attempt to explain the lack of further presence of Species 8472 in the Star Trek universe. The Boothby infiltrator also indicated that they preferred to be called "Groundskeepers" though this is not a canon name for the race.

They also feature in the backstory of Star Trek Online and were particularly involved in the Klingon storyline as being a motivating factor for their increased xenophobia. In the game, they are given the name of Undine similar to the novel name, but this is not a canon term for the race and they remain known as Species 8472 for this article.

External links [ ]

• Species 8472 article at Memory Alpha , the wiki for canon Star Trek .
• Undine article at The Star Trek Online Wiki .
• 1 The Chase
• 2 Ferengi Rules of Acquisition
• 3 Preserver (race)

• Cast & crew
• User reviews

Episode list

Star trek: voyager.

S4.E13 ∙ Waking Moments

S4.E14 ∙ Message in a Bottle

S4.E15 ∙ Hunters

S4.E16 ∙ Prey

S4.E17 ∙ Retrospect

S4.E18 ∙ The Killing Game

S4.E19 ∙ The Killing Game, Part II

S4.E20 ∙ Vis À Vis

S4.E21 ∙ The Omega Directive

S4.E22 ∙ Unforgettable

S4.E23 ∙ Living Witness

S4.E24 ∙ Demon

S4.E25 ∙ One

S4.E26 ∙ Hope and Fear

S5.E1 ∙ Night

S5.E2 ∙ Drone

S5.E3 ∙ Extreme Risk

S5.E4 ∙ In the Flesh

S5.E5 ∙ Once Upon a Time

S5.E6 ∙ Timeless

S5.E7 ∙ Infinite Regress

S5.E8 ∙ Nothing Human

S5.E9 ∙ Thirty Days

S5.E10 ∙ Counterpoint

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Star Trek: Voyager - Episode Guide - Season 4

This is when Voyager becomes assimilated – not merely by Borg- and Borg technology-centered episodes, but also by the new character Seven of Nine herself.

Stealing the drone through whom the Borg communicated with voyager’s crew during the season-opening battle with Species 8472. In return, the so-called “Seven of Nine” rapidly begins stealing the show, along with the companionship of the Doctor; these two characters essentially become a fragmented Data, i.e. the mouthpiece for outsiders to learn human culture.

The introduction of Seven to the cast also results in the swift ejection of Kes from Star Trek: Voyager, regrettable only in that she didn’t take freakin’ Neelix with her…

1. Scorpion, Part II – A Borg drone is assigned to work with Janeway, Tuvok and the Voyager crew, who come up with an ingenious biological weapon to use against Species 8472. Naturally, the Borg rapidly renege on the deal (shocker!), but Janeway et al are way too clever to completely trust them. ****

2. The Gift – Kes is rapidly “changing” and “becoming something else” (namely expendable with the arrival of Seven of Nine), so her psychokinetic abilities are running amok. The last few minutes with Janeway and Kes running down corridors become unintentionally hilarious if you imagine the explosions are a bombardment from the producers trying to get Kes off the damn show already … **

3. Day of Honor – B’Elanna plays out the events of the Police song “Any Other Day” except on a starship and involving her refusal to complete a Klingon rite of passage. **

4. Nemesis – Not to be confused with the godawful tenth Star Trek movie, “Nemesis” instead tells a strange tale of Chakotay’s informal enlistment into a guerilla war. ***

5. Revulsion – Torres and The Doctor board an alien ship which had sent a distress signal . The sole survivor is a clearly deranged hologram; the whole thing descends into psycho killer mode quickly and, together with “Prototype” serves as a cautionary tale for B’Elanna: Never board an alien ship which is not populated by humanoids. ***

6. The Raven – Slowly becoming biologically more human, Seven has strange visions composed of memories of her time as a drone mixed with symbolic remembrances of her childhood. ***

7. Scientific Method – A dark and über-creepy story about aliens who can walk freely among the specimens of various species upon which they experiment. When Seven finally sees (literally) the reality of the situation on Voyager, it’s almost enough to send her scrabbling back to the collective. ***

8. Year of Hell, Part I – A race with control over time resets history in a region of space through which Voyager is passing. The result is a vast empire “defended” by ships with superior technology to Voyager’s, and months upon months of continuous attacks. Meanwhile, Chakotay and Paris are captured by the “timeship” manipulating history repeatedly. ***

9. Year of Hell, Part II – A seriously shredded Voyager takes refuge in a nebula (good old nebula!) to enact repairs. Aboard the timeship, Chakotay finally sees the egocentric nature of the captain’s ways. They manage to restore the timeline which began this leg of the voyage (or at least close enough) and even provide the captain which a more productive life in the reset universe. ***

10. Random Thoughts – On a world where violent thoughts themselves are forbidden, B’Elanna is busted for just such crimethink. Seeing Tuvok solve a whodunit mystery is always cool, but the suspense in this one is ruined fairly early by a very small cast. ***

11.  Concerning Flight – Components of Voyager as well as Janeway’s hologram of Leonardo da Vinci are (rather easily) stolen and about to be fleeced on the black market. So Janeway and Da Vinci save the day, escaping via a magical glider which hypnotizes pursuers into not shooting from 60 or so feet away. **

12. Mortal Coil – A freak accident kills Neelix, and when Seven unfortunately revives him 10 hours later, he whines about the lack of afterlife. *

13. Waking Moments – A trippy (literally) episode featuring a race with yet another unique spin on the invasion plan: These guys put their prey into a shard dream state and have their way in the dream world. Naturally, Chakotay and his very sloppily defined indigenous abilities help save the day. ***

14. Message in a Bottle – Voyager finds an apparently abandoned subspace communications network. They locate a Federation starship in the Alpha Quadrant and send the Doctor through. Upon arrival, he discovers that Romulans have taken the ship, with only he and the ship’s own, more advanced, EMH. Hilarious interplay between the Doctors combines nicely with the general suspense of the episode. ****.

15. Hunters – Introducing the Hirogen, a rather unstable-seeming nomad species which is obsessed with eternally hunting “lesser species.” In “Hunters,” the Federation uses a Hirogen communication network to transmit a detailed message to Voyager. The Hirogen soon demand that Voyager cease using the network and shortly after *that* begin the shooting war… **

16. Prey – Species 8472 is back … or at least one weak and wounded member of ‘em is. Hirogen hunters think they have the fluidic beastie captured, but just one survives to be treated aboard the Enterprise. The 8472er has followed the hunter to Voyager, however, and the battle resumes. Janeway and Seven have a tiff over how the 8472 should be dealt with. ***

17. Retrospect – What starts as an intriguing-looking whodunit turns into an underdone script with the Voyager bridge crew all ultimately blaming the victim; in this case, it’s Seven, who has vivid memories of a trader stealing Borg technology out of her body. 0

18-19. The Killing Game – Now here’s how you do a holodeck story. Hirogen take over Voyager and force the crew to play out various war scenarios. Most of the action takes place in a Casablanca-feeling French village. Nazis and aliens as bad guys? Vive la resistance? Seven first as a lounge singer, then as hero? The Doctor doing Doctor things? Klingons verses Nazi troops? Nice. *****

20. Vis à Vis – An alien requesting assistance with his ship gets on board Voyager and performs the ol’ body-swapping trip with Paris. Pretty standard stuff here. **

21. The Omega Directive –Voyager encounters incredibly explosive omega particles and Janeway is under standing orders to destroy all such particles regardless of circumstances. ***

22. Unforgettable – An alien contacts Voyager – and specifically Chakotay – in an effort to gain political asylum with Voyager and the Federation. Naturally, she’s (all together now) not all that she seems! ****

23. Living Witness – An absolutely fascinating look at the distortions of history and dogma. Some 700 years in the future, the EMH is reinitialized on a Delta Quadrant world and the Doctor pressed by a local historian for details of the EEEEvil Voyager crew. His mere telling of the truth, however, has a profound effect on the planet’s peoples. A great twist and satisfying ending, too. ****

24. Demon – Paris and Kim head down to a “Demon-class” planet for fuel, only to find a bizarre substance which they ultimately identify as “biomimetic fluid.” Standard “life but not as we know it” kinda stuff, but a stunning payoff for this episode does come … about one season later. **

25. One – From season 4 on, one can’t blame the uninitiated for thinking of Star Trek: Voyager as the “Doctor and Seven Show.” This episode serves as prime example of the phenomenon. So as to pass through a nebula cram-packed with lethal radiation, all Voyager crew except Seven and (naturally) The Doctor are put into stasis. Eventually the Doctor shuts down as well, leaving Seven to fend for her own against loneliness – and other dangers. ***

26. Hope and Fear – Quite an interesting and heady episode, if you’re willing to look past some rather obvious plot holes. An alien with an otherworldly (sorry) talent for languages helps Voyager decode certain tricky bits of the message Voyager received in “Hunters” – or does he? Despite the improbability of several plot devices in “Hope and Fear”, some good questions regarding Janeway’s decisions emerge – and, upon consideration, the baddie here isn’t totally unjustified in his actions. ***

Prey (episode)

• View history
• 1.2 Act One
• 1.3 Act Two
• 1.4 Act Three
• 1.5 Act Four
• 1.6 Act Five
• 2 Log entries
• 3 Memorable quotes
• 4.1 Script, cast, and characters
• 4.2 Production and effects
• 4.4 Continuity
• 4.5 Reception
• 4.6 Video and DVD releases
• 5.1 Starring
• 5.2 Also starring
• 5.3 Guest Star
• 5.4 Special Guest Star
• 5.5 Uncredited Co-Stars
• 5.6 Stunt Double
• 5.7 Stand-ins
• 5.8 References
• 5.9 External links

Summary [ ]

The Hunters plan the end for their prey

A bio-ship piloted by a sole member of Species 8472 is fleeing from a Hirogen ship . The younger of the two Hirogen wants to intercept the bio-ship and make the kill but the Alpha tells him to maintain their distance. He instructs the younger Hirogen that his prey is injured and its behavior will be the " key to its destruction ." The bio-ship fires at the warship but the shot is too weak to cause any real damage. The bio-ship heads for an asteroid belt where the Alpha believes it will make a final stand. Species 8472 leaves its ship adrift amongst the asteroids and goes onto a nearby asteroid. The hunters prepare themselves with their colored hunting paint, equip their weapons, put on their masks and go after the creature on the asteroid. Once there, they realize they cannot detect it as their scanners are being deflected. Moving silently across the asteroid the Alpha hears movement behind him and swivels around, coming face-to-face with his prey. Unfortunately for the Species 8472 the Alpha opens fire, causing the creature to withdraw as the Beta arrives firing his weapon. Several dozen shots later and their prey is presumed dead. The Alpha tells the Beta that it was a flawless kill.

Act One [ ]

"Did I mention you look lovely today?"

Seven of Nine is in sickbay , reciting a list of " bedside manner talk." She finds the exercise pointless but The Doctor disagrees. He created the exercise to familiarize himself with the social graces of the crew . They move on to "Exercise Two" – the workplace encounter. Seven takes on the role of a doctor, while The Doctor becomes the nurse. It all seems normal until Seven reads the phrase, " Did I mention you look lovely today? " Ending her lesson, she begins to leave. The Doctor tells her that although it's awkward at first, the rewards can be well worth the effort. The Doctor compares Seven to the time he was first activated, offering that he can help her. Agreeing to his offer, she takes the PADD and as she is leaving, she turns and says, " Have a pleasant day. " The Doctor smiles and gets back to work.

The USS Voyager has detected an alien vessel moving towards them and they confirm that it has a Hirogen signature. Captain Kathryn Janeway decides that they need to settle their differences for good and first officer Commander Chakotay orders a red alert . They attempt to hail the Hirogen but there is no response. As the vessel closes in, Lieutenant Commander Tuvok detects that they haven't charged weapons and there is only one life sign aboard. The vessel stops just in front of them as its engines fail. Chakotay thinks it is a trap but a long-range scan reveals that there are no other Hirogen ships in the area. Janeway tells Lt. jg Tom Paris to move within transporter range, intending to beam over. Seven informs Janeway that she sees the Hirogen ship as a potential threat and recommends that they destroy it. Janeway tells her that she wants to show some compassion, even though Seven responds that the Hirogen haven't reciprocated any compassion before.

Chakotay takes Paris and Tuvok with him on the away team , finding the Hirogen vessel severely damaged. They spread out, looking for the life sign they detected. Chakotay finds a lot of bones and a skull hanging in netting from the ceiling before finding a large tank with more remains in it. Paris finds a helmet , but immediately drops it in fright and horror when he discovers it still has a severed (Hirogen) head in it. Chakotay locates the life sign they detected and finds the Alpha gasping for air, clutching his weapon in fear.

In the briefing room , Tuvok and Chakotay show Janeway the navigational logs recovered from the Hirogen ship. The logs state the ship has been traveling for at least five years, and in the last year it has visited over ninety star systems . Chakotay reports on the alien remains found on the ship, suggesting that they could be trophies from previous hunts. He also surmises that their culture is based upon the hunt. Tuvok says that there is no evidence of a home planet and that Hirogen ships usually travel in small groups, sometimes joining together for a multi-pronged attack, like a wolf pack .

The Alpha is in sickbay, unconscious and behind a force field . Janeway tells Seven that while she was correct about the Hirogen being a threat, the risk of sending an away team has paid off and now they know a lot more about them. Seven simply states that Janeway was correct and it was worth the risk…this time. Janeway then asks, who's hunting the hunters?

Outside, unbeknownst to the Voyager crew, an injured member of Species 8472 is limping up the ship's hull.

Act Two [ ]

Janeway is in sickbay to check in on the Hirogen Alpha. The Doctor explains to her that while attempting to remove the Alpha's body armor , he regained consciousness. He can't be sedated as his immune system is rejecting everything The Doctor has tried giving him and he could be dead in the time it takes to synthesize something potent enough. Janeway explains to the Alpha that his crewmate is dead and his ship beyond repair. Attempting to ascertain what happened, Janeway asks a few questions but gets no response from the hunter at first. The Alpha tells Janeway of the formidable alien they captured two days previously. Unfortunately, their prey broke its restraints and attacked the crew. The Alpha asks to be released so he can continue his hunt. Janeway refuses, saying that he'll die without treatment, so the Alpha grudgingly agrees to stay in sickbay.

Chakotay reports that six Hirogen vessels are converging on Voyager 's position from all directions, so Janeway asks Paris to evade them for as long as possible. Chakotay informs Janeway that they are half a light year away, and so Voyager has only four hours until the Hirogen surround them. Janeway wants to give The Doctor enough time to treat the Alpha so that he can call off the rest of the Hirogen. She hopes that diplomacy will work but Chakotay doubts it, saying that to the Hirogen, Humans and other species are merely game to be hunted. Their conversation is interrupted as the ship shakes. A hull rupture is detected on Deck 11, where a plasma conduit has overloaded. Then there is another jolt as a bulkhead collapses. Janeway sends Tuvok and Ensign Harry Kim to Deck 11 to find out the cause of the collapse. They open one of the hatches to find themselves staring into space. Someone, or something, has ripped through the bulkhead from the outside. They see some blood of some kind on the floor and as Tuvok contacts the bridge, he gives his analysis of the blood sample to Janeway: it is consistent with Species 8472. Janeway orders an intruder alert and seals off Decks 10 to 12. They can't detect the creature, so Janeway says they'll have to track it visually. She grabs a phaser and heads to Deck 11.

An unfortunate surprise…

In engineering , Seven reports that she has erected a level 10 force field around engineering. Lt. jg B'Elanna Torres asks her to set up force fields around every hatch, Jefferies tube and conduit leading there. She attempts to lockdown the warp core , then hears an unfamiliar hissing sound. She looks up… and the wounded alien jumps from the warp core onto her.

Act Three [ ]

Janeway enters engineering to see a few crewmembers lying on the floor, wounded. She orders her security team to take the wounded to sickbay, as Seven reports on what has happened. They tried stunning the creature with their phasers but they were ineffective, it then left engineering through a Jefferies tube. Janeway tells them to secure the warp core and leaves with Seven. She asks if the Borg engaged in physical combat with Species 8472 and what tactics they used. The aliens' destination was always the central power matrix, which was subsequently disabled. However, this particular creature didn't touch any of the power systems.

They head to sickbay, where The Doctor is treating Torres and the other wounded crewmen. Janeway asks the Alpha if the alien is alone. Chakotay recounts previous events and Janeway believes that this sighting could indicate a new invasion. ( VOY : " Scorpion ") The Alpha has only seen one ship and he has been tracking it over fifty light years . When they thought they had killed the creature, it turned out they hadn't.

The Alpha-Hirogen tells of his tracking skills

He again asks Janeway if he can finish the hunt. Seven steps in and tells him he will fail, as the only weapon that can stop Species 8472 are Borg nanoprobes . The Alpha doesn't know what they are, so Chakotay explains. Seven tells Janeway that she will modify the phaser rifles to fire nanoprobe discharges but Janeway tells her that she only wants to incapacitate the creature. Seven calls the alien a threat and the Alpha agrees with her assessment. Over her forceful objections, Seven is ordered to make the necessary modifications. Janeway tells the Alpha to let the approaching ships know that his life was saved by Voyager and that the ship does not want any hostilities to occur between the two species . The Alpha says he will comply with the request, if he is allowed to continue the hunt. He informs Janeway that he has studied the creature's behavior for six months and knows how to track it.

There is another shake as the creature accesses environmental controls . Tuvok reports to Janeway that Deck 11 is losing life support and artificial gravity is also compromised, leaving him floating in the corridor. Janeway tells him to evacuate the deck, as the Alpha tells Janeway that the creature is trying to barricade itself. Janeway allows him to continue his hunt, but under Chakotay's supervision. If he steps out of line, Chakotay is ordered to shoot him. Stepping out from confinement, the Alpha asks for his weapon.

Paris and Chakotay change into EV suits so they can search for Species 8472 on Deck 11. After learning that the Alpha's body armor is sufficient, Chakotay contacts Tuvok and Seven, who are already in EV suits. They make their way to Deck 11, which is now in near total darkness. The Alpha knows that the creature is near but Chakotay orders him to stay in his position. Tuvok and Seven continue moving through the deck on their own. Passing a corridor, Seven suddenly stops and shoots, seeing something. Tuvok backtracks and finds out that Seven had only seen a PADD floating in the room. He notices Seven's increased agitation but she tells him that her fear is justified as Species 8472 were the only species to offer true resistance to the Borg. Chakotay, Paris and the Alpha find blood floating in the corridor and realize that it is from the creature, who is now trapped near deflector control . The Alpha knows the creature is not planning to run but is waiting for an opportune moment to slip around them and attack them from behind. They contact Tuvok and Seven and ask them to join their squad. They soon find the creature floating in the corridor, looking lifeless. The Alpha wants to kill him but Chakotay tells him that they need the alien incapacitated. The Alpha attacks Chakotay, fires at Paris and then opens fire on the creature. He doesn't get far however, as Tuvok stuns him from behind.

Act Four [ ]

Species 8472 communicates with Tuvok

Tuvok enters the mess hall and asks Neelix to leave his cooking and join the security team. He is asked to report to Deck 10 and send tactical updates every twenty minutes. Tuvok stops giving orders however, as the alien communicates telepathically with him.

The Alpha is back behind a force field in sickbay and a security perimeter has been set up around Species 8472. Janeway wants Torres to keep a transporter lock on the creature, in case they have to beam it off the ship. She asks The Doctor for an injury report, but he can't scan the creature with his tricorder ; he can only make a visual diagnosis . He theorizes that the creature has been hunted for months but he can't say for certain the extent of its internal damage. Paris and Seven tell Janeway that the creature attempted to open a singularity but failed. Janeway believes it was trying to get home .

Janeway finds Tuvok, who is in constant telepathic contact with the creature. He tells the captain that during the conflict with the Borg its vessel was damaged. It was unable to return to fluidic space when Species 8472 retreated. Now, it doesn't want to keep fighting, it simply wants to return home because it is dying. Janeway verbally tells the creature that they will attempt to get it back to its own space. During the conversation, the alien loses consciousness and the telepathic link with Tuvok is lost.

Janeway goes to sickbay, where the Alpha demands to be taken to his prey. Janeway informs him that they will be returning the creature to fluidic space. She also tells him that the hunt is over. The Alpha again demands that the creature should be returned to him or the crew of Voyager will take its place.

Janeway asks Tuvok to send Seven of Nine to her ready room, as she is most likely the only one who can recreate the singularity. Tuvok has his concerns as Seven may not want to co-operate.

Janeway informs Seven of her decision but Seven thinks it would not be a prudent course of action. Janeway tells her that part of becoming Human is showing compassion, even to those people who are considered bitter enemies. She recounts a story from when she was a Lieutenant . She was part of an away team defending a Federation outpost and they had been exchanging phaser fire for three days with a group of Cardassians . One night, there was a break in fighting and they could hear a low moan coming from just outside their camp. As all of their people were accounted for, it had to be a Cardassian. Her commanding officer decided that they couldn't let the man suffer, so they went out and brought him back to camp. Three days later, they won the fight and all of them were decorated by Starfleet Command . However, Janeway was most proud of the fact that they had saved the Cardassian's life. Seven tells Janeway that she is still confused about her analogy and Janeway tells her that " a single act of compassion can put you in touch with your own Humanity. " She wants Seven to see this as a chance to grow but Seven refuses, saying that Janeway's decision is "tactically unsound." She still doesn't understand and she and Janeway begin to argue. Janeway eventually orders her to create the singularity but she refuses. Seven is then ordered to remain in the cargo bay until the situation with the creature is over.

Act Five [ ]

Voyager is under attack by three Hirogen vessels. Another three approach, cutting off Voyager 's escape routes. Their weapons are having no effect against the Hirogen ships.

In sickbay, the two guards are standing alert with their phaser rifles pointed directly at the Alpha, who is still behind the force field.

The Hirogen hail Voyager and demand the return of both hunter and prey. Janeway says that if the Hirogen stop their attack, they will return the Alpha but the creature is under their protection now. The Hirogen finds this unacceptable and ends the transmission.

The creature is regenerating on Deck 11, where The Doctor thinks it is becoming more agitated. The Doctor can sedate it but Seven would need to give them another supply of nanoprobes. They also need at least another hour or two to duplicate the deflector protocols to generate a singularity. Main power goes offline as the next shot from the Hirogen ships hit Voyager and all force fields are disabled. Quickly bringing auxiliary power online, The Doctor reports that the creature is still contained. Unfortunately, the Alpha has broken out. Taking one of the guard's phaser rifles, he sets off on his hunt.

Two quick shots disable both the port and starboard nacelles , leaving Voyager crippled.

The hunter fights his prey

Seven arrives at The Doctor's location and moments later so does the Alpha, who quickly incapacitates the security guards. In a tense stand-off, the Alpha doesn't believe that Seven will kill him but as another shot hits the ship the force field goes down and the creature runs at the Alpha. Unable to raise his weapon in time, the Alpha and the creature become tangled on the floor. Seven uses the distraction to access the transporter system and she beams the Alpha and the creature on to one of the Hirogen vessels.

Voyager is unable to pursue the departing Hirogen ships as warp drive is still off-line, so Janeway orders Paris to resume their previous course at impulse. Janeway inquires into the reason for the Hirogen breaking off their attack and Chakotay tells her – Seven of Nine. " Seven of Nine ", Janeway angrily replies, knowing that her actions have surely resulted in the creature being killed by the Hirogen.

Janeway goes to Cargo Bay 2 where Seven is regenerating. She prematurely ends Seven's regeneration cycle and tells her that she disobeyed a direct order which resulted in the death of a sentient being . Seven argues that her actions prevented the destruction of Voyager by the Hirogen, but Janeway tells her that they have no way of knowing and either way she hasn't come to debate that but to inform Seven of the consequences. She tells Seven she is no longer willing to accommodate her brazen and occasionally insubordinate behavior and as of now Seven will no longer have access to any primary systems on the ship without Janeway's direct authorization, warning her that she'll be thrown in the brig if she tries anything. She can still work in astrometrics if she so desires, as it's either that or remain in the cargo bay. Seven is puzzled. She tells Janeway that after being liberated from the Collective , Janeway encouraged her to cultivate her independence. But now, when she tries to assert it, she is punished. Janeway replies that there are limits, especially on a ship with a command structure. Seven believes she is being punished because she is not thinking the way the rest of them do. She also claims that perhaps Janeway is frightened by Seven's individuality.

" As you were, " Janeway replies, leaving the cargo bay.

Log entries [ ]

• " Captain's log, stardate 51652.3. It's been twelve hours and our sensors show no sign of any Hirogen vessels, but their people are scattered throughout this region and something tells me that the hunt for Voyager is far from over. "

Memorable quotes [ ]

" The way a creature behaves when it is wounded is the key to its destruction. "

" I'm reading bones, muscle tissue from at least nine different species. It's all being broken down by some sort of enzyme. " " Perhaps this is their method of denaturating their prey. " " Either that or it's dinner. "

" You should know I'm a hologram and can't be bent, spindled, or mutilated, so don't bother trying. "

" Is your body armor designed to handle rapid pressure fluctuations? " " It can defeat most hostile environments. I once tracked a silicon-based lifeform through the neutronium mantle of a collapsed star. " " I once tracked a mouse through Jefferies tube thirty two. "

" Mr. Neelix, I must ask you to exchange your spatula for a phaser rifle. "

" This isn't a hunt. It's a slaughter. And I'm calling it off right now. "

" Part of becoming Human is learning to have compassion for those who are suffering, even when they're your bitter enemies. "

" I know you don't want to do it, Seven. But I'm telling you as your Captain and as your friend, you won't regret it. " " No. Your decision is tactically unsound. "

" I'm giving you an order. Report to deflector control and begin working on creating a singularity. " " I will not comply. I've agreed to remain on Voyager . I've agreed to function as a member of your crew; but I will not be a willing participant in my own destruction or the destruction of this ship. " " Objection noted, we'll do this without you. " " You will fail. " " And you have just crossed the line. "

" It is puzzling. " " What's that? " "You made me into an individual. You encouraged me to stop thinking like a member of the collective… to cultivate my independence… my Humanity. But when I try to assert that independence, I am punished. " " Individuality has its limits. Especially on a starship, where there's a command structure. " " I believe that you are punishing me because I don't think the way that you do… because I'm not becoming more like you. You claim to respect my individuality… but in fact, you are frightened by it. " " As you were. "

" You missed. "

Background information [ ]

Script, cast, and characters [ ].

• This episode's final draft script was submitted on 27 October 1997 . [1]
• Episode writer Brannon Braga believed that the teleplay he wrote for this episode was "a very difficult script" for a typical director to execute. ( Cinefantastique , Vol. 30, No. 9/10, p. 99)
• Brannon Braga was proud, however, of the turbulent way in which this episode develops the relationship between Seven of Nine and Janeway. " It was the best Janeway-Seven arc since her introduction, " Braga declared. " It was great having them go head to head like that. With any luck, we left people wondering about their relationship at the end. The parent [is] raising the child, and the child is not turning out like the parent. Does that make the parent wrong? The child wrong, because they're being unreasonable? I hope it taps into some deeper issues about the parent-child relationship. " ( Cinefantastique , Vol. 30, No. 9/10, p. 99)
• Robert Picardo was invited to contribute to the Doctor's relationship with Seven by Brannon Braga, and came up with the student/teacher relationship seen in the episode stating, " taking the relationship I had with Kes and flipping it so that the Doctor has the ego to think he's a better teacher of how Seven should reclaim her humanity than a real human would seem to have a lot of comic possibilities. I specifically suggested we could have roleplaying exercises in which I would teach her appropriate behavior under different social situations. " [2]
• Brannon Braga was also pleased with the performances here. He enthused, " The acting was superb. " ( Cinefantastique , Vol. 30, No. 9/10, p. 99)
• Tony Todd (Alpha Hirogen) is better known for his recurring role of Kurn in Star Trek: The Next Generation . He not only appeared as that recurring character in the episode " Sons of Mogh " but also portrayed an alternate timeline adult Jake Sisko in DS9: " The Visitor ".
• The task of portraying the Alpha Hirogen in this episode was fun for Tony Todd. " It was a great experience for me, " he happily remembered. " I liked the character and I felt the script gave me something to do. " ( Star Trek Magazine  issue 157 , p. 41)
• Even so, Tony Todd did not enjoy wearing his Hirogen costume. " That turned out to be the most uncomfortable thing I ever did, " he explained. " I had to wear this full bodied suit and the big decision for me on that show was [–] a half hour before they put me in the suit [–] if I had to go to the bathroom or whether I could hold it in until my scenes were done. " ( Star Trek Magazine  issue 157 , p. 41) His Hirogen makeup also tested Todd's endurance. The actor recalled, " Of all of the prosthetic work I've done, it was the most uncomfortable stint, playing that character. Not only was it a four-hour makeup process for the face, it was an hour-and-a-half costume application as well. I don't know if you've ever been in a situation where someone has to tell you to give them notice 20 minutes before you had to pee. It's hard to pee on demand. But I knew the makeup and costume looked effective. And I just wanted that triptych, to be able to be in all three of the shows. " [3]
• Seven of Nine actress Jeri Ryan cited this episode as one of her favorite episodes from the fourth season of Star Trek: Voyager , along with " The Gift ", " The Killing Game " two-parter and " Hope and Fear ". ( Star Trek Monthly  issue 40 , p. 35)

Production and effects [ ]

• This was the first-aired Star Trek production that Allan Eastman directed. His work on this episode satisfied Brannon Braga, who said, " The director, Allan Eastman, took [the] script and made it look like a movie. " ( Cinefantastique , Vol. 30, No. 9/10, p. 99)
• The EV suits worn by Paris, Chakotay, Tuvok, and Seven are the ones used in Star Trek: First Contact . Only three EV suits are visible simultaneously, the same number as in the film.
• Having worked on the episode that introduced Species 8472 – specifically, the third season finale " Scorpion " – Ronald B. Moore and Foundation Imaging were given the chance to revisit the alien species for this episode. Visual effects producer Dan Curry noted, " Ron Moore supervised that episode. " ( The Birth of Species 8472 , VOY Season 4 DVD ) Moore himself said, " Once again, we went to Foundation. " ( Cinefantastique , Vol. 30, No. 9/10, p. 90)
• The telepathic visions that Tuvok experiences here mostly involved reused shots from the two-parter "Scorpion" and " Scorpion, Part II ", in which Kes sees some of the same images; the recycled footage includes close-up views of a member of Species 8472 that both she and Tuvok individually envisage. Another reused shot is of the battle between a Borg cube and a Species 8472 ship, during which – in the far distance behind the cube – the starship Voyager can also be seen. In fact, only one of the shots that, supposedly, Tuvok sees telepathically was created especially for this episode; it shows a Species 8472 vessel being pursued by a Hirogen ship. Ron Moore commented, " Once again, we […] got stuff, with only one exception from previous episodes. There was one ship shot that [Tuvok] visualizes, and that's something we did for 'Prey'. Other than that, it was something we had already done, which made sense, because he had been so close to Kes. " ( Cinefantastique , Vol. 30, No. 9/10, p. 90)
• As they had done for the "Scorpion" two-parter, Foundation Imaging once again handled the CGI involved in visualizing Species 8472. ( Cinefantastique , Vol. 30, No. 9/10, p. 90) John Teska – who had been instrumental in designing the alien species, originally – was one of the Foundation staffers who had some input into the aliens' appearance here. Teska was glad upon first learning that the aliens were to return to Star Trek: Voyager . " Certainly, I was excited to see that they were gonna keep reusing this character and keep bringing him back, because I was having a great deal of fun, having build him and then getting to animate him, " Teska reminisced. " But, you move on to spaceships and you think, 'Well, maybe he won't come back.' But when I read the script for 'Prey', I was really excited because there were scenes of him [such as] having hand-to-hand combat with this Hirogen warrior. " ( The Birth of Species 8472 , VOY Season 4 DVD )
• John Teska appreciated the unusualness of the shot that shows a member of Species 8472 exploring the exterior of Voyager . He remarked, " That was a fun shot […] You know, there are certain shots that, for an animator, you just really look forward to. And that was one, because it's so rare to see this creature in a full screen shot, and then the whole idea that it's, you know, walking around the outside of the hull. It was also interesting because the camera does like a kind of weird bank into that shot, just kind of orienting itself to the creature on the side of the hull. So, you know, on several fronts, it was kind of a unique shot to get to do. " ( The Birth of Species 8472 , VOY Season 4 DVD )
• The fight scene between the Alpha Hirogen and the member of Species 8472 that is cornered aboard Voyager provided a challenge for the visual effects team. In fact, Dan Curry went so far as to state that this episode was "the trickiest" of the numerous episodes in which Species 8472 appears, precisely because this was "an episode where it actually fought with somebody." Curry elaborated, " Having to have a CG creature fight with a live actor was very, very difficult. Ron Moore […] did a great job, working with the director, and the stunt guy, and the actors, to make sure we were able to put a really terrific scene together at the end. " Speaking from his perspective as a member of Foundation Imaging, John Teska noted, " We had to work very closely with the supervisors on that show and make sure that, when they would shoot it, that there'd be anticipation, I guess, of where the character would be [and] how the actors should react. " ( The Birth of Species 8472 , VOY Season 4 DVD )
• To complete the scenes that include Species 8472, the color and contrast of the computer-generated aliens were adjusted by Ron Moore in the edit bay. ( Cinefantastique , Vol. 30, No. 9/10, p. 90)
• Brannon Braga liked the effects in this episode, describing them as "great effects." ( Cinefantastique , Vol. 30, No. 9/10, p. 99)
• The first act of this episode begins with some introductory musical notes that resemble the main theme tune from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine . ( Delta Quadrant , p. 224)
• Brannon Braga was happy with the episode's soundtrack, noting about the installment, " It had good music. " ( Cinefantastique , Vol. 30, No. 9/10, p. 99)

Continuity [ ]

• Species 8472 previously appeared in the duology in which it was first introduced, in " Scorpion " and " Scorpion, Part II ".
• Chakotay says in this episode "Six months ago, [Species 8472] invaded our galaxy", establishing that it has been six months since the events of " Scorpion ".
• Voyager ' encounter with another member of Species 8472 is somewhat unexplained, given that Voyager was thrown 9,500 light years closer to Earth in the episode " The Gift ", shortly after last encountering the species. It's unclear how the Species 8472 ship - which was left behind from the rest of its fleet when they retreated back into fluidic space - was able to travel this distance so quickly.
• When speaking to the Hirogen, Janeway says that the "first time I met your species it wasn't on the best of terms", referring to the events of " Message in a Bottle " in which Voyager uses the Hirogen communication network without their approval, leading to a confrontation.
• The intruder alert siren has a rare appearance here, when Tuvok detects the member of Species 8472.
• Although Janeway lectures Seven of Nine here that "it is wrong to sacrifice another being to save our own lives," this is apparently a change of heart from the events of Season 2 's " Tuvix ", wherein Janeway forces Tuvix to sacrifice his life to restore those of Tuvok and Neelix . It is possible that the events of that episode led Janeway to reconsider her views on this point.
• In the scene where the Alpha Hirogen escapes from sickbay and confronts Seven of Nine in the corridor, he is clearly seen carrying a Federation phaser rifle (taken from one of the guards in sickbay). In the sequence where Species 8472 and the Alpha Hirogen struggle, however, he is suddenly holding his own Hirogen weapon.
• The sixth-season episode " Ashes to Ashes " establishes that a death (that of Ensign Lyndsay Ballard ) has occurred off-screen between the previous episode " Hunters " and this one. This death brings the total number of confirmed crew deaths since the series premiere " Caretaker " to 15, the previous one having occurred in " Scientific Method ". This would put the crew complement as of the end of this episode at 146, given the crew complement of 148 that was most recently established in " Distant Origin " and " Displaced ", and the deaths that have occurred since.
• Hirogen hunting their pray is their way of life. Captain Janeway interfering in the hunt might be a violation of the Prime Directive. But there is no onscreen discussion of this. The Federation had declined to get involved in the Kelpien vs Ba'ul for exactly the same reason.

Reception [ ]

• Brannon Braga's general opinion of this episode was very high. On two separate occasions, he raved, " 'Prey' turned out great. " ( Cinefantastique , Vol. 30, No. 9/10, p. 99; Star Trek Monthly  issue 44 , p. 12) On one of those times, he added, " Everything came together. " ( Cinefantastique , Vol. 30, No. 9/10, p. 99) Braga also counted this episode as a highlight of the fourth season (along with the two-parters " Year of Hell " and " Year of Hell, Part II ", as well as " The Killing Game " and " The Killing Game, Part II "). ( Star Trek Monthly  issue 44 , p. 12)
• Executive producer Jeri Taylor once described this installment as a "full-out action adventure romp" that was "full of lots of aliens." ( Star Trek Monthly  issue 36 , p. 13)
• This installment was one of Dan Curry's favorites from Star Trek: Voyager 's fourth season. ( Cinefantastique , Vol. 30, No. 9/10, p. 74)
• This episode achieved a Nielsen rating of 3.8 million homes, and a 6% share. [4] (X)
• Cinefantastique rated this episode 4 out of 4 stars. ( Cinefantastique , Vol. 30, No. 9/10, p. 99)
• Star Trek Magazine scored this episode 4 out of 5 stars. ( Star Trek Monthly  issue 42 , p. 60)
• The unauthorized reference book Delta Quadrant (p. 225) gives the installment a rating of 7 out of 10.

Video and DVD releases [ ]

• UK VHS release (two-episode tapes, CIC Video ): Volume 4.8, catalog number VHR 4629, 10 August 1998
• As part of the VOY Season 4 DVD collection

Links and references [ ]

Starring [ ].

• Kate Mulgrew as Captain Kathryn Janeway

Also starring [ ]

• Robert Beltran as Chakotay
• Roxann Dawson as B'Elanna Torres
• Robert Duncan McNeill as Tom Paris
• Ethan Phillips as Neelix
• Robert Picardo as The Doctor
• Tim Russ as Tuvok
• Jeri Ryan as Seven of Nine
• Garrett Wang as Harry Kim

Guest Star [ ]

• Beta-Hirogen
• Hirogen Hunter

Special Guest Star [ ]

• Tony Todd as Alpha-Hirogen

Uncredited Co-Stars [ ]

• David Keith Anderson as Ashmore
• John Austin as operations division officer
• Richard Bishop as operations division officer
• Steve Carnahan as operations division officer
• Damaris Cordelia as Foster
• Tarik Ergin as Ayala
• Brendan Fleming as operations division officer
• Roger Garcia as operations division officer
• Tom Gianelli as operations division ensign
• Caroline Gibson as operations division officer
• Joyce Lasley as Lydia Anderson
• Rad Milo as operations division officer
• Arthur Murray as command division officer
• Guy Richardson as operations division officer
• Shepard Ross as Murphy
• Joey Spagnola as operations division officer
• CGI – Species 8472 prey

Stunt Double [ ]

• Scott L. Schwartz as stunt double for Tony Todd

Stand-ins [ ]

• John Austin – stand-in for Clint Carmichael
• Sue Henley – stand-in for Kate Mulgrew
• Gregory Hinton – stand-in for Tony Todd and Scott L. Schwartz
• Susan Lewis – stand-in for Roxann Dawson
• Brita Nowak – stand-in for Jeri Ryan
• Lemuel Perry – stand-in for Tim Russ
• J.R. Quinonez – stand-in for Robert Picardo and Robert Beltran
• Robert Rasner – stand-in for Ethan Phillips
• Keith Rayve – stand-in for Robert Duncan McNeill and Robert Beltran
• John Tampoya – stand-in for Garrett Wang

References [ ]

2369 ; 2371 ; ability ; afternoon ; agitation ; alien ; animal ; antimatter injector port ; approach pattern ; art ; artificial gravity ; asteroid ; asteroid belt ; Astrometrics lab ; atmospheric recycler ; authorization command code ; auxiliary power ; away team ; aye ; banter ; barricade ; biobed ; bioelectric field ; bio scan analysis ; blanket ; blood ; body armor ; bone ; Borg ; Borg alcove ; Borg Collective ; Borg cube ( unnamed ); Borg drone ; Borg encryption code ; Borg nanoprobe ; Borg vessel ; bowl ; bridge ; Bridge Banter for Beginners ; briefing room ; brig ; Buck-toothed alien ; bulkhead ; burn ; camp ; captain ; captain's log ; Cardassian ; Cardassian border conflict ; Cardassian border conflict combatants ; cargo bay ; cave ; cellular level ; central power matrix ; chair ; chief medical officer's office ; command division ; commander ; commanding officer ; command structure ; com link ; communicator ; compound ; computer ; conduit ; console ; corridor ; course ; creature ; crewmate ; culture ; damage ; database ; day ; death ; decapitation ; deck ; decoration ; Deflector Control ; deflector dish ; deflector protocol ; Delta Quadrant ; denaturation ; desire ; desk ; desktop monitor ; dialogue ; dicyclic warp signature ; dilithium matrix ; dinner ; diplomacy ; distance ; distress call ; DNA ; doctor ; door ; dozen ; duty ; EMH ; engine ; engineering ; ensign ; environmental control ; environmental suit ; enzyme ; epidermis ; EPS manifold ; escape trajectory ; evasive maneuvers ; examination ; exobiologist ; eye ; female ; Federation outpost ; flashlight ; flight path ; fluidic space ; food ; force field ; freedom ; galaxy ; hail ; hatch ; helmet ; here and now ; high warp ; Hirogen ; Hirogen ship (aka Hirogen vessel ; unnamed ); hologram ; home planet ; hour ; hull armor ; hull plating ; hull rupture ; Human ; hunt ; hunter ; hunting party ; hypospray ; immune system ; impulse ; injury ; intercept course ; internal bleeding ; internal sensor ; Intrepid -class ; Intrepid -class decks ; intruder alert ; invasion ; Jefferies tube ; Kes ; kilometer ; level 5 force field ; level 10 force field ; lieutenant ; lieutenant commander ; lieutenant junior grade ; lifesigns ; lifestyle ; light year ; log ; long range scan ; ma'am ; magnetic boot ; magnetism ; main power ; male ; mantle ; map ; meat ; medical bay ; mentor ; mess hall ; meter ; microscopic ; Milky Way Galaxy ; minute ; mister ; molecular structure ; monotanium ; month ; mouse ; muscle tissue ; mutilate ; nacelle ; navigational record ; NCC ; net ; Neutronium ; night ; nomad ; nurse ; operations division ; operations station ; pack ; PADD ; patient ; percent ; phaser ; phaser bank ; phaser rifle ; physiognomy ; physiological maintenance ; physiology ; pilot ; planet ; plasma conduit ; plasma network ; polyfluidic compound ; port ; power ; power surge ; power system ; prey ; primary system ; puncture ; pupil ; quantum singularity ; race ; ready room ; red alert ; regeneration ; religion ; remains ; replicator ; report ; restraints ; ritual ; scan ; scanner ; sciences division ; secondary force field ; security detail ; security officer ; security perimeter ; security station ; sedative ; sensor ; sentient being ; sentiment ; shields ; sickbay ; silicon-based lifeform ; SIMs beacon ; sir ; skeletal system ; skull ; slaughter ; social graces ; sociology ; spatula ; species ; Species 8472 ; Species 8472 bio-ship ; star ; starboard ; stardate ; Starfleet border conflict away team ; Starfleet Command ; Starfleet tricorder ; star system ; strategy ; structural integrity field ; stun ; supervision ; systems analysis ; systems operations ; table ; tactical course projection ; tactical station ; tank ; tattoo ; teeth ; telepathy ; temperature gradient ; thing ; thoracic crest ; time ; transmission protocol ; transporter ; transporter lock ; transporter range ; transporter system ; trap ; tricorder ; trophy ; turbolift ; unnamed asteroid belt ; unnamed asteroid ; unnamed non-humanoid ; vector ; vernacular ; viewscreen ; visual range ; vocabulary ; Voyager , USS ; Vulcan ; warp core ; warp power ; weapon ; wisdom ; wolf ; Workplace Encounter, The ; year

External links [ ]

• "Prey" at StarTrek.com
• " Prey " at Memory Beta , the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
• " Prey " at Wikipedia
• " Prey " at the Internet Movie Database
• 1 Abdullah bin al-Hussein

Star Trek's 10 Best Monster Episodes

• Star Trek embraces peace but also explores monster movie elements for some thrilling episodes.
• Shows like Voyager & Next Generation weave classic monster movie themes with sci-fi twists.
• Even as monsters take center stage, empathy remains a core theme in the Star Trek universe.

Star Trek has a message of peace and tolerance and seeing beyond the surface, but it's not above doing an all-out monster movie from time to time. From its inception in 1966, Star Trek has taught audiences not to judge alien species by appearances . For example, Star Trek: Voyager villains Species 8472 were terrifying, Alien -inspired creatures, who turned out to be benevolent aliens that had been driven to violence by the actions of the Borg Collective. Earlier episodes like Star Trek: The Original Series ' "Devil in the Dark" revealed hidden emotional depths to a creature that was ostensibly a disgusting rock monster.

Despite Star Trek 's message of empathy, sometimes the writers can't resist creating scary monsters and super creeps. Star Trek has always drawn on the history of science fiction, and the big monster movies popularized by studios like RKO are no exception . Over nearly six decades, Star Trek TV shows have drawn on classic monster movies like The Thing From Another World and King Kong , giving them a Gene Roddenberry-style twist.

10 Times Star Trek Went Full-On Horror And Gave Us Nightmares

Star trek: voyager, season 2, episode 15, "threshold", story by michael de luca, teleplay by brannon braga.

Star Trek: Voyager 's notorious salamander episode , "Threshold" begins as an exploration of theoretical transwarp barriers and becomes something more akin to The Phantom of the Opera or King Kong . When Lt. Tom Paris (Robert Duncan McNeill) breaks the transwarp barrier, he begins experiencing some bizarre side effects. Breaking the transwarp barrier has triggered a strange evolution in Paris' body, which turns him into a salamander, who decides they need a mate in the form of Captain Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew).

...the monster movie elements ensure that "Threshold" is never boring.

There are some obvious monster movie parallels in "Threshold", from the way that the reptilian Paris carries an unconscious Janeway like the Phantom of the Opera to the body horror of the Voyager helmsman's transformation. The climax of the notorious Star Trek: Voyager episode, in which the "monster" that is now Paris fights off the crew to take Janeway as his mate, is pure King Kong . It's a Voyager episode that is rightly panned for its lack of narrative cohesion, but the monster movie elements ensure that "Threshold" is never boring.

Star Trek: The Next Generation, Season 7, Episode 19, "Genesis"

Written by brannon braga.

Star Trek: The Next Generation season 7, episode 19, "Genesis" is essentially The Island of Dr. Moreau set aboard the USS Enterprise-D. Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and Lt. Commander Data (Brent Spiner) return to the Enterprise to discover that the crew has devolved into various terrifying monsters. For example, Lt. Reginald Barclay (Dwight Schultz) is de-evolved into a spider-like creature, while Lt. Worf (Michael Dorn) devolves into a savage proto-Klingon that tries to kill Picard. The cause of these transformations is a mistake made by Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden) while reactivating a cell that would have given Barclay immunity to the flu.

Gates McFadden injects what could have been a very silly story with genuine tension.

Although the science is just as dubious as Star Trek: Voyager 's "Threshold", Star Trek: The Next Generation season 7, episode 19, "Genesis" has the benefit of being much more atmospheric. Interestingly, "Genesis" was directed by Dr. Beverly Crusher actor Gates McFadden , who injects what could have been a very silly story with genuine tension. The climax, where Picard tries to fend off an attack from a prehistoric Worf, while Data tries to concoct a cure using the DNA of Nurse Ogawa's unborn baby, is well directed by McFadden, giving this daft TNG outing an exciting monster movie vibe.

"Genesis" was the only episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation to be directed by Gates McFadden.

Star Trek: Every Actor Who Also Directed Episodes Or Movies

Star trek: the original series, season 1, episode 26, "the devil in the dark", written by gene l. coon.

"The Devil in the Dark" is a classic Star Trek monster episode , because it hinges on Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner), Lt. Commander Spock (Leonard Nimoy), and Dr. "Bones" McCoy (DeForest Kelley) learning to understand a creature beyond their understanding. Investigating a supposed monster that is attacking a mining operation on Janus IV, they soon discover that the titular " devil in the dark " is no monster, but a mother protecting their young. It's thanks to Kirk and Spock's open-mindedness that the miners manage to avert the destruction of the entire Horta race .

The scene in which Kirk has to reason with the baying mob invokes images of the villagers with torches and pitchforks in the climax of Universal's classic monster movie, Frankenstein .

From a visual effects perspective, the actual Horta in Star Trek: The Original Series may look hokey by today's standards , but it tells a story about the need for empathy. TOS' cave monster isn't able to communicate with the miners, and so has to resort to violence. Similarly, the miners want violent recriminations from the "monster" that killed their colleagues. The scene in which Kirk has to reason with the baying mob invokes images of the villagers with torches and pitchforks in the climax of Universal's classic monster movie, Frankenstein . Thanks to Kirk, however, the Horta has a happier ending than Frankenstein's monster.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Season 2, Episode 12, "The Alternate"

Teleplay by bill dial, story by jim trombetti and bill dial.

In one of Constable Odo's best Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episodes , a mysterious monster stalks the corridors of DS9 late at night. It's believed to be the mysterious sample that Odo (Rene Auberjonois) and scientist Dr. Mora Pol (James Sloyan) brought back from the Gamma Quadrant. However, in reality, it's Odo, who is under the influence of mysterious alien toxins, and the stress of seeing his "father" again. "The Alternate" is a fun Star Trek spin on Robert Louis Stevenson's The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde , that has some genuinely unnerving moments of horror.

Odo's monstrous alter-ego is less Mr. Hyde, and more like the titular Blob from the classic 1958 sci-fi monster movie.

Odo's transition into the monster toward the end of the episode is horrifying to watch as he rants and raves while struggling to remain in a solid state. Odo's monstrous alter-ego is less Mr. Hyde, and more like the titular Blob from the classic 1958 sci-fi monster movie. Interestingly, Dr. Julian Bashir (Alexander Siddig) doesn't categorically confirm it's the alien toxins that caused the transformation, suggesting another cause. As the gelatinous monster bears down on Dr. Mora Pol, it becomes clear that the real cause of the transformation is Odo's father issues.

All 4 Star Trek Characters Played By James Sloyan

Star trek: voyager, season 3, episode 12, "macrocosm".

Star Trek: Voyager has many creepy episodes , but "Macrocosm" is the most overt monster episode. Like Star Trek: The Next Generation 's "Genesis", also written by Brannon Braga, "Macrocosm" has a silly concept that is realized like a survival horror movie. The monsters faced by Captain Janeway and the Doctor (Robert Picardo) are effectively giant viruses that become airborne, infecting those they come into contact with. To repel the viral infection of the USS Voyager, the Doctor created an antigen which Janeway eventually detonated inside the holodeck, killing the assembled macroviruses.

"Macrocosm" finally gave Captain Janeway her Ellen Ripley moment.

"Macrocosm" got a wryly funny sequel in Star Trek: Lower Decks ' season 4 premiere, "Twovixed", but the episode itself is a decent homage to the Alien franchise. As the Star Trek franchise's first female captain, it's great to see Janeway getting to be an action hero like Captain Kirk in Star Trek: The Original Series , or Picard in Star Trek: First Contact . While the monsters themselves weren't anywhere near as terrifying as Alien 's Xenomorph, "Macrosm" finally gave Captain Janeway her Ellen Ripley moment.

Star Trek: Discovery, Season 1, Episode 3, "Context is for Kings"

Teleplay by gretchen j. berg, aaron harberts, and craig sweeny.

The disgraced Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) is given a second chance after her mutiny aboard the USS Shenzhou in a Star Trek: Discovery monster episode. "Context is for Kings" explores what happened to the USS Glenn, the second of Discovery 's crossfield-class starships . Following a catastrophic accident while experimenting with spore drive technology, the ship's entire crew were killed, save for the tartigrade creature they had captured and wired to the spore drive. Freed from its shackles by the accident, the creature rampaged through the Glenn, killing a Klingon boarding party and turning its attention to Burnham and her away team .

The true monster in Star Trek: Discovery season 1, episode 3, "Context is for Kings" is Starfleet themselves.

The true monster in Star Trek: Discovery season 1, episode 3, "Context is for Kings" is Starfleet themselves. The cruelty that the crew of the USS Glenn had shown to the tartigrade was unbecoming of Starfleet, and showed how far they were willing to diverge from their principles to defeat the Klingon Empire . Captain Gabriel Lorca (Jason Isaacs) hammers this point home by having the tartigrade brought aboard the USS Discovery, taunting it as it tries to break free from the forcefield.

Jason Isaacs 10 Best Acting Roles (Including Star Trek: Discoverys Lorca)

Star trek: lower decks, season 4, episode 2, "i have no bones yet i must flee", written by aaron burdette.

Star Trek: Lower Decks introduced Moopsy into the canon in the season 4 episode, "I Have No Bones Yet I Must Flee". Visiting an alien menagerie, newly promoted Lt. junior grade Beckett Mariner (Tawny Newsome) and Commander Jack Ransom (Jerry O'Connell) had to conted with Moopsy, a soft fluffy creature that also happened to drink bones . Mariner and Ransom came up with a suitably irreverent Lower Decks solution to their problem, by punching out Ransom's teeth and using them as treats to lure the Moopsy back into its cage.

Moopsy is basically a monstrous Tribble, unable to control its base urges.

Moopsy was the sort of creation that could only feature in the irreverent world of Star Trek: Lower Decks , and yet it plays on existing creatures in the canon. Moopsy is basically a monstrous Tribble, unable to control its base urges. However, Mariner and Ransom don't kill the creature to save themselves, they find a humane - if slightly painful - solution to their situation. Not only that, but Mariner also unmasks the truly dangerous monsters - greedy humans seeking to bulk up their business portfolios , in this case by staging a hostile takeover of an alien menagerie.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Season 1, Episode 9, "All Those Who Wander"

Written by davy perez.

"All Those Who Wander" combines the classic Star Trek: The Original Series episode "Arena" with Alien to provide a terrifying episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds . The vicious Gorn babies that are encountered by the Enterprise away team are relentless, rampaging through the ship and killing everything in their path. It's through the noble sacrifice of Lt. Hemmer (Bruce Horak) that the away team is able to get back to the safety of the USS Enterprise. However, the scars of the terrifying encounter between the Enterprise and the Gorn carry over into Strange New Worlds season 2 .

The Gorn infants move like raptors, drawing comparisons with the climax of Steven Spielberg's Jurassic Park

Because there's genuine dramatic stakes and a cost to life, Star Trek: Strange New World 's Gorn survival horror movie is the best version of the subgenre after the classic movie, Star Trek: First Contact . As an hour of television, it wears its genre influences on its sleeve, particularly the similarities between the icy crash site with the colony in Aliens . However, it's not just the Alien franchise that Star Trek: Strange New Worlds riffs on in "All Those Who Wander". The Gorn infants move like raptors, drawing comparisons with the climax of Steven Spielberg's Jurassic Park .

Complete History Of The Gorn In Star Trek

Star trek: the next generation, season 1, episode 23, "skin of evil", teleplay by joseph stefano & hannah louise shearer.

Armus (Ron Gans) in Star Trek: The Next Generation , is a truly monstrous creation, and even refers to himself as " evil " . Unlike the Horta in Star Trek: The Original Series , Armus isn't attacking the Enterprise away team to protect its children, he's doing it because he's a monster. A black, oily mass of everything impure and evil rejected by a " race of Titans ", Armus was abandoned on the planet Vagra II . There, he fantasized about torturing any visitors to the planet, but he quickly got bored after killing Lt. Tasha Yar (Denise Crosby).

Tasha Yar was no red shirt, and her death at the hands of the monster of the week makes "Skin of Evil" an impactful entry in the TNG canon.

"Skin of Evil" is one of Star Trek 's best monster episodes because, like "All Those Who Wander", it takes a toll on the characters. Star Trek: The Next Generation loses Tasha Yar to this monster, which proved that it would be a very different show to Star Trek: The Original Series . A TOS version of "Skin of Evil" would have played out in a similar fashion, but with the deaths of some disposable red shirts thrown in . Tasha Yar was no red shirt, and her death at the hands of the monster of the week makes "Skin of Evil" an impactful entry in the TNG canon.

Star Trek: The Original Series, Season 1, Episode 5, "The Man Trap"

Written by george clayton johnson.

Star Trek 's best monster episode is also its very first, setting the tone for those that would follow . Star Trek: The Original Series , season 1, episode 5, "The Man Trap", features a Salt Vampire that feeds on salt, which can also shapeshift to take the form of anyone that can help it achieve its goals. In essence, "The Man Trap" is Star Trek 's take on the 1951 movie The Thing From Another World , later remade by John Carpenter as The Thing . Both the Star Trek episode and the Thing movies center on a shapeshifting creature that feeds on the human characters.

"The Man Trap" was chosen by the network as the first episode of Star Trek: The Original Series to air due, in part, to its strong monster-of-the-week.

Both iterations of The Thing and Star Trek: TOS season 1, episode 5, "The Man Trap" also play on paranoia and being unable to trust your own eyes . In "The Man Trap", the Salt Vampire has the ability to take the form of the woman most desirable to each of the male characters. For example, Dr. McCoy believes it to be his former lover, Nancy, driving a wedge between him, Kirk and Spock. "The Man Trap" was chosen as the first episode of Star Trek: TOS to air in 1966, and its influence can be felt in Star Trek 's monster episodes nearly 60 years later.

All these episodes of Star Trek are available to stream on Paramount+.

Screen Rant

I’m glad robert picardo changed his mind about star trek: voyager’s big doctor twist.

The Doctor underwent a big change in Star Trek: Voyager season 3, something that Robert Picardo was first wary about and then glad of.

• Robert Picardo was initially wary of the Doctor's mobile emitter, fearing it would change the character too much.
• Picardo's concerns were unfounded, as the emitter actually helped the Doctor feel more fleshed-out and unique.
• The mobile emitter allowed for some of the Doctor's best episodes in Star Trek: Voyager, enhancing his exploration of humanity.

Robert Picardo initially had misgivings about the Doctor's big twist in Star Trek: Voyager season 3, but thankfully changed his mind when he saw how well it was working. From the start, the Doctor was one of the most intriguing members of Voyager's cast of characters and had a storyline filled with potential. Although his episodes in seasons 1 and 2 were generally met with acclaim, it wasn't until season 3 and the acquisition of a specific device that the Doctor's arc began to be taken in more expansive directions.

Season 3, episodes 8 and 9, "Future's End Parts I&II" saw the USS Voyager's crew travel back in time, ending up in 1990s Los Angeles. There, they were pulled into a conflict with Henry Starling (Ed Begley Jr.) a supposedly genius tech mogul who in reality had stolen 29th-century technology and was planning to use it with potentially disastrous results. At one point, Starling stole the Doctor's program from Voyager, and while holding him at his lab, inadvertently gifted him with a mobile emitter, something that would end up irrevocably changing the Doctor's life and trajectory on Voyager ​​​​​​ .

Every Voyager Character Who Has Returned In Star Trek (& How)

Robert picardo explains concerns about the doctor’s mobile emitter in star trek: voyager season 3, picardo wasn't sure the mobile emitter was a good thing.

The mobile emitter was a revelation for the Doctor, as it allowed him to reliably travel outside of sickbay whenever he wanted. However, actor Robert Picardo was concerned that having the mobile emitter would change the Doctor's character too much from how he'd been in Voyager 's early seasons. Speaking to Star Trek Monthly at the time that Voyager was airing, Picardo admitted that he was initially wary of the emitter, feeling that the ability to move freely about the ship would mess with the story formula that made the Doctor compelling . Read Picardo's full quote below:

"I was concerned about the Portable Holographic Emitter because I didn't want to mess with a winning combination. The audience seemed to embrace The Doctor's character during the show's first seasons, and so much of his character is based on the notion that he is severely limited and has to cope with limitations such as the fact that he can only exist in Sickbay or in the Holodeck, and that he's different to an organic being. So it seemed to me that if we took the risk of making him more like everyone else, we were damaging part of his uniqueness. Fortunately, that does not seem to have been the case. I am very happy that I was wrong about the Portable Emitter."

Picardo's fears about what the mobile emitter might have done to the Doctor weren't unfounded. As the first main character who was also a sentient hologram, the Doctor was a unique addition to the Star Trek franchise. Even similar characters, like Data on Star Trek: The Next Generation , didn't experience the same struggles with such a limited scope of mobility. Indeed, some of the Doctor's best episodes of seasons 1 and 2 dealt with him figuring out his limitations and how they impacted his growing humanity . However, as Picardo himself pointed out, there was never any cause for concern.

Picardo Agrees He Was Wrong About Star Trek: Voyager’s Mobile Emitter Twist

The doctor's mobile emitter was one of the best things to come out of season 3.

Rather than ruining what made him so compelling, the mobile emitter allowed some of The Doctor's best Star Trek: Voyager episodes to be possible. The wider freedom the emitter gave the Doctor only helped him continue to explore his humanity more expansively. This in turn helped the Doctor feel more fleshed-out, whereas being confined to Sickbay and the holodeck might have limited him too much in the long run . Ultimately, it's a very good thing that Robert Picardo got over his fears about the emitter, given the influence he had on decisions made about the Doctor.

Source: Star Trek Monthly issue 30

Star Trek: Voyager is available to stream on Paramount+.

Star Trek: Voyager

*Availability in US

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The fifth entry in the Star Trek franchise, Star Trek: Voyager, is a sci-fi series that sees the crew of the USS Voyager on a long journey back to their home after finding themselves stranded at the far ends of the Milky Way Galaxy. Led by Captain Kathryn Janeway, the series follows the crew as they embark through truly uncharted areas of space, with new species, friends, foes, and mysteries to solve as they wrestle with the politics of a crew in a situation they've never faced before.